The author discusses some reflections arising from clinical work, on the subject of risk as a pathological potentiality or, on the contrary, as an opportunity for growth. She presents an evolutionary point of view in the evaluation of the patient that also takes into account risk indices and transformative possibilities, in consideration of environmental stimuli. She emphasises in conclusion the need not to move away from an ethical vision that privileges the need for patient care as the first objective that does not preclude, but rather favours the expansion of the patient's mind and of the analytic couple at work.

KEY WORDS: Developmental potential, ethics, psychotic potential, risk.